"You found it?"
Raon bent one knee, staring into the frog's eyes where Merlin and Flumen resided.
"Yeah. Under the Label River—"
"I'm speaking now." Merlin interrupted sharply as Flumen tried to explain. "Raon. Where are you looking instead of at me?"
Her voice sank eerily, as if echoing from underground.
—Eeeeeek!
Wrath tilted his head, clutching his neck in mock terror.
"If you ignore me—"
"M-Merlin! Wait!" Raon raised his hand toward the frog's purple eyes. "I'll listen to everything you want to say after talking with Flumen first." He swallowed dryly, pleading for her patience.
"Really?" Light seeped into Merlin's voice.
"Yes. I promise."
Raon nodded earnestly.
"Okay!"
As Merlin withdrew with a smile, the chilling purple faded from the frog's eyes.
"R-Raon has it tough too, huh…" Flumen's voice flowed out again, slow and sympathetic.
"Never mind that." Raon covered his reddening face and placed the frog on his palm. "Who did you find? Tell me their description first."
He had asked Flumen to search for the corpse of one of the Five Demons that might lie beneath the river. It seemed he had found something.
"It's not a person, but a weapon."
"A weapon?"
"Yeah. The sword of the red-haired man who suddenly appeared on the battlefield and challenged your grandfather." Flumen's voice was calm. "I found the black sword stuck deep in the river."
"The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance…"
The only madman with red hair who had dared to challenge Glenn was him.
"Was there no corpse?"
"No. There was nothing around it. Only the sword."
"What's the condition of the black sword?"
"The blade is cracked, but not broken. I wonder if it could still be used if repaired?"
"Hmm…" Raon bit his lip, gazing into the frog's dark, pearl-like eyes.
Is he really dead…?
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance was infamous for his madness, even among the Sword Fanatics. He had forced aside the Five Demons' leaders, obsessed only with witnessing Glenn's swordsmanship. A man like that wouldn't vanish leaving just his sword behind.
Moreover, he took the Head of House's Soul Sword head-on.
When the Five Demons' leaders fled from Glenn's Soul Sword, he had leapt forward instead, eager to observe it closely. There should have been no chance of survival.
However…
The fact that his sword remained unbroken nagged at Raon. If it had only cracked, perhaps its owner still lived.
I should report this.
Even if the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance had split from the Five Demons, Glenn needed to know.
"Thank you, Flumen." Raon smiled faintly, stroking the frog's head.
"W-We're friends!" Flumen laughed sheepishly.
"But Raon…" His voice dropped suddenly. "Sh-Shouldn't the masked woman be sealed? The world might be in danger if Merlin is left free."
—Flumen knows well!
Wrath climbed onto the bracelet, nodding vigorously.
—That madwoman must not be allowed to roam without a leash!
He trembled, adamant.
"What are you doing!" Merlin's voice burst from the frog's mouth.
"S-Sorry! The sealing talk was just a joke—"
"Why are you receiving Raon's touch all by yourself!"
The frog's eyes flashed purple again, filled with jealous fury.
"Hah…" Raon sighed heavily. This is more important than sealing?
Merlin wasn't upset at Flumen's words—only at missing a pat.
"Move aside quickly!"
"Okay…"
The sound of Merlin pushing Flumen aside echoed.
"Merlin." Raon raised a finger toward the frog's eyes. "Flumen is our lifesaver who saved both you and me. I'd like you to treat him with respect—"
"I understand!" Merlin cut him off with an elegant tone. "Lord Flumen, this girl was too impertinent. I'll be careful from now on."
Her voice shifted, polite and regal, as if from a royal court.
"N-No…" Flumen stammered.
"Lord Flumen. It is right to repay a life debt with life. If there's someone you want dead, just tell me. I'll cut their throat immediately—"
"There's no one! Don't do it! Aaaah!"
Terrified, Flumen's voice vanished.
"Merlin. Stop tormenting Flumen and come here."
"I'm not tormenting him. I'm sincere." Merlin shook her head with a faint smile.
"How are your injuries? Are they all healed?"
"My chest ached a bit, but when I read your love letter, the pain flew away." She wiggled her hand playfully.
"How is that a love letter…" Raon rubbed his temple. The letter had been simple thanks, not… this.
"What will you do now? Travel, perhaps—"
"Being by your side is the journey. A journey of love."
—Aaaaaaaaah!!!
Wrath rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically.
"But before meeting you," Merlin's tone grew calm, "there's something I need to check."
"Something to check?"
"Yes. The movements of the Five Demons and the Dragons."
"You're no longer part of the Five Demons. If you reveal yourself—"
"I know. I'll be careful. I can disguise myself as an animal, like now."
Still, Raon frowned.
"The Heavenly Demon might move."
"The Heavenly Demon…?"
"Yes. The Fallen said he would move soon. He's been raising a disciple." Merlin's lips pressed thin. "Their goal is restoration—to return the continent to a paradise for monsters and resurrect the Demonic Dragon. But their purposes after that differ. I must learn what his true aim is."
"Even if you could come to Zieghart now?"
"Yes. I still can't. Because you're more important to me than myself."
Her words struck Raon harder than he expected.
"Then there's no choice…" He sighed. "Just be careful. I still have a debt to repay you."
"You don't need to repay something like that." She smiled softly. "But I do have this child's request."
"Hmm…"
"It woke from hibernation and wants you to make a bedroom. Warm, soft, spacious, and quiet."
Raon stared. "How am I supposed to suddenly—"
"Please!" Merlin waved, and the frog's eyes turned black again. Its hind legs wiggled in eager demand.
"Sigh…" Raon pointed at the ground near the lake. "How about here?"
The frog turned away—too damp.
What frog cares about humidity! Raon scowled, then moved to a flower bed.
"Then here?"
The frog shook its head again—too many roots.
Finally, its tongue flicked toward North Grave Mountain.
"Alright. Let's go…" Raon sighed and climbed. By the time he returned to the annex building, dawn had already broken.
Glenn slowly opened his eyes. The pale purple dawn seeped through the window.
"Did you cough?" Roenn smiled faintly, setting down a towel by his bedside.
"It's been a while since I've seen the Head of House sleep this long," Sheryl said, leaning against the wall with a grin.
"What happened?" Glenn frowned, raising his body.
"Did you lose your memory?" Sheryl stepped closer, eyes round. "Head of House—you almost ascended in the banquet hall!"
"Banquet hall? Ascended?" Glenn touched his temple, lowering his gaze. It feels like something extremely joyful happened… Yet his memory faltered.
"It seems your memory was erased from too much joy," Sheryl muttered.
"Since you waited over twenty years…" Roenn chuckled softly.
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me. What happened yesterday?" Glenn pressed.
"You were finally called grandfather by Raon!" Sheryl declared.
"And Miss Sylvia called you father," Roenn added.
"G-Grandfather…" Glenn's chin trembled. Memories rushed back—Raon's words echoing: Mom should greet grandfather first. Since you've become part of the direct lineage again, calling grandfather 'father' should be the first thing, right?
His lips curled upward. His chest swelled, and strength drained from his body.
Boom!
He collapsed under the bed, eyes closing. Now I have no regrets… His body shimmered faintly, soul threatening to ascend.
"Oh no! It's starting again!"
"We must grab him!"
Sheryl and Roenn rushed forward, performing CPR.
"Cough!" Glenn gasped violently, color returning.
"Please, come to your senses! Why are you suddenly trying to ascend!"
"Hehehe…" Sheryl scolded while Roenn wiped sweat from his brow.
"Ahem…" Glenn cleared his throat, leaning back. "It seems I waited too long. Just hearing Raon call me grandfather made me feel as if I'd fulfilled my duty."
He waved it off, though his heart was still trembling.
"I was especially moved when Sylvia and Raon called me together," he admitted. "They both grew up well, unlike this incompetent one."
He closed his eyes, smiling faintly. Just imagining that banquet moment nearly melted his soul.
My body feels light…
For the first time in decades, he had slept soundly. Even his lingering injuries seemed eased.
"All the more reason you shouldn't ascend here," Sheryl said firmly. "You must see the kids get married!"
"The Heavenly Blade Division Leader is right," Roenn agreed. "Didn't you say you still had much to teach?"
"True." Glenn chuckled. I can't leave yet.
Though he had injured the Five Demons' leaders, peace would not last. He had to pass down everything he had learned to Zieghart.
Raon, Sylvia. Glenn clenched his fist, staring at the golden sky. I will protect you two no matter what.
Raon stood alone in the great training ground, drawing upon the Ring of Fire and Wrath at once.
Boom!
The Ring of Fire circling his heart and the Wrath rising from his soul collided in his Middle Dantian, like enemies clashing.
He tried to unite them, enduring the sharp pain—but they refused to mix, like oil and water.
"Tsk." He lowered his hand. It's not easy.
—Foolish one! Why such a complicated path? Wrath flailed. —Just show that lizard-helmet guy's hand and reveal him! Even if he has regeneration like Angels or Demons, the scar wouldn't vanish!
He's not that simple. Raon shook his head. Derus would have erased it somehow. I must prepare a way to shatter all his tricks.
—Humans are troublesome. Just cut his neck!
Ignoring Wrath, Raon tried again. The Ring of Fire and Wrath still repelled one another.
Impossible to unify them perfectly? Even at transcendence?
—If it doesn't work with hands, use a container!
Wrath mocked him—but Raon froze.
A container… Right. The container comes first, not the ingredients.
He summoned the Blade of Death. Whoosh!
Into the blazing white current, he poured both the Ring's energy and Wrath's emotion. This time, they seeped in harmoniously, glowing with warm light.
[You have pioneered a new flow.]
[All ability scores increase by 10.]
[The grade of the trait increases.]
—Huh!? Wrath's jaw dropped.
Thank you, Wrath. As expected, your advice never fails.
—I-I wasn't advising! This king was mocking you!
You really are the giving tree. Raon grinned, raising the Blade of Death, now infused with both powers.
—Damn it!
Wrath screeched, turning into strawberry-flavored cotton candy.
Raon's red eyes gleamed as he turned toward the Lord's Manor.
It's finally time. Time to bring up the name… Derus Robert.